There are a few standards by which the greatest guitarists of all time might be ranked. In the realm of electric rock, artists such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page are somewhat familiar with the pinnacle of success. It usually comes down to personal preference when choosing among these guitarists: how much importance do you place on speed, tone, composition, creativity, and so forth?
Let’s just assume, to avoid further controversy, that the guitarists on the above list and your particular favorites, whom I neglected to add, were masters of their crafts. Despite this, Jimi Hendrix is frequently regarded as the best of them due to his flawless tone, compositional skill, and easygoing flair. He undoubtedly knew how to handle Clapton and Beck, but he also picked up some tips from his peers.
Hendrix entered a highly competitive scene when he came to London from the US in 1966, but he emanated quiet confidence right away. In 2021, Beck stated to Louder Sound, “We knew he was going to be in trouble when I saw Jimi.” “When I say “we,” I mean Eric Clapton and me because Jimmy Page wasn’t in the photo at the time.
Beck went on to say that he had witnessed Hendrix play at one of his first London shows. “It was pretty devastating,” he said with jealousy. He put the icing on our coffin by pulling off all the dirty tricks, like putting his instrument on fire and swooping up and down his neck. I was the same way about “I’ll Kill You” as Hendrix was, but he did it in such a great package with amazing music.
Although Beck acknowledged the degree of skill he and Hendrix shared, he believed he lacked the American’s charisma and flare for composition. Beck said, “There was a time in London when I visited him quite a bit.” A remarkable gift that he gave Hendrix before his second studio album was later revealed by him. I provided him with a bottleneck. Bold As Love is what he plays on Axis, he continued.
In addition to giving Hendrix’s second album the gift of slides, Beck’s creative use of the guitar also appeared to have an impact on the “Purple Haze” singer. In a 2022 SiriusXM interview with Beck, Johnny Depp remarked, “It’s nice to remind these people, ‘Hey… Jimi Hendrix wouldn’t have played the same way if it hadn’t been for that guy.” “Well, that’s a pretty weird idea to have in your head.”
Hendrix did, in fact, eagerly follow Beck’s late 1960s career and even appropriated one of the Brit’s riffs. Jimi Hendrix borrowed the main riff from Beck’s 1969 song “Rice Pudding.” He used it when he wrote “In From the Storm” for his tragic fourth album, Cry of Love. Hendrix once acknowledged having “swiped” the riff, according to a memory Beck had.
When Beck discovered Hendrix was listening to his music, he thought they could become peers. “This is truly amazing,” Beck reminisced. We can now discuss music. It’s not like I can’t be inspired by him and he’s an immovable force. He was also an inspiring person. The enigmatic persona that Hendrix had so masterfully crafted appeared to vanish abruptly, revealing a regular creative man beneath it.
He was now a contemporary of Beck. This was incredibly humble. In 2022, Beck continued, “I mean, I can die happy when I know that he played that.”
Tragically, Beck died in January 2023, a few months following his conversation with Depp. His only regret with Hendrix is that not a single picture of the two of them exists. It would be a shame if nobody has already done this, but regardless, the musical connection remains a powerful bond that has been solidified throughout history.
Jeff Beck’s influence is clear in Jimi Hendrix’s “In From the Storm.” Listen to “Rice Pudding” and “In From the Storm” below.
